WSBK: More Wretched Luck For Kiyonari At Magny Cours
Kiyonari breaks his collarbone in race one crash
Ryuichi Kiyonari crashed out of today’s opening World Superbike race at Magny-Cours in France, breaking his right collarbone and excluding himself from the second race.
The Japanese ace broke the same collarbone at a test at the 4.41km French circuit last year, ruling him out of the 2008 races. He also crashed during qualifying on Friday, damaging the shoulder and compounding the injury in this afternoon’s fall.
Today’s two races were won by the championship’s main protagonists, Ben Spies and Noriyuki Haga, who now head to the final round at Portimao with Haga leading by 10 points.
Ryuichi Kiyonari – DNF & DNS
I am very disappointed because I think we showed that we had some pace on Friday morning. After the crash in the afternoon, I have been in pain for all the sessions but was not feeling too bad for the races today. I was trying to pass Shakey Byrne just before the last chicane, but I think I got a bit close and used too much brake. That was it and I am very sorry for my team and all the hard work they have done for me recently. I will go back to Japan now and have another operation and hopefully I will be OK for Portimao.
Ronald ten Kate – team manager
Of course, it’s very disappointing for Kiyo-san and the whole team. I think he will be happy not to see Magny-Cours for a while as the circuit does not seem to bring him very much luck. There have been glimpses recently of an improvement in the way Kiyo is working with the bike and we hope that that potential can be realised fully in the final races at Portimao.
2009 World Superbike championship, round 13 – Magny-Cours, France (4.41km, 2 x 23 laps) results:
Race one:
1 Ben Spies (USA) Yamaha 37’57.110s
2 Noriyuki Haga (JPN) Ducati +0.181s
3 Max Biaggi (ITA) Aprilia +5.009
4 Michel Fabrizio (ITA) Ducati +16.347
5 Leon Haslam (GBR) Honda +22.622
6 Carlos Checa (ESP) Hannspree Ten Kate Honda +24.948
Race two:
1 Noriyuki Haga (JPN) Ducati 38’00.282s
2 Max Biaggi (ITA) Aprilia +1.480s
3 Jonathan Rea (GBR) Hannspree Ten Kate Honda +6.024
4 Ben Spies (USA) Yamaha +18.135
5 Leon Haslam (GBR) Honda +21.236
6 Yukio Kagayama (JPN) Suzuki +23.647
9 Carlos Checa (ESP) Hannspree Ten Kate Honda +31.455
Championship points after 13 of 14 rounds: Haga 436, Spies 426, Fabrizio 346, Biaggi 293, Rea 279, Haslam 241, Checa 200.
Next round: Portimao, Portugal – 23-25 October